Gov. Robert Bentley’s office acknowledged last month that Mr. Bentley, a second-term Republican, was renovating the [AL gov's Gulf Coast mansion ] with up to $1.8 million that BP gave the state after the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico…

The 7,446-square-foot home on the Fort Morgan peninsula, a few hours southwest of [Montgomey] is an embarrassment by virtually every account. It was most likely the only governor’s residence in the country with a rusted gate and boarded-up windows.

“The so-called governor’s mansion at the beach is a textbook example of poor stewardship of public resources,” said the state auditor, Jim Zeigler. “The Alabama government is bad about taking money for one purpose and diverting it to somebody’s pet project.”